Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Thursday's session are International Business Machines Corp. (IBM),
Morgan Stanley (MS) and PepsiCo Inc. (PEP).
IBM reported a 21% drop in first-quarter profit as the computing
giant's revenue continued to be stung by a sharp decline in
hardware sales. Shares fell 4.3% to $187.70 premarket.
Morgan Stanley said first-quarter profit jumped 5% as strong
results in the company's wealth-management business were bolstered
by an unexpected rise in fixed-income trading revenue. Shares rose
3% to $30.80 premarket as results solidly beat analyst
estimates.
PepsiCo said its first-quarter profit climbed 13% as growth in
the company's snack-foods operations masked another weak period
from its beverage business. Results beat expectations, sending
shares 2.3% higher to $86.71 premarket.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s (GS) first-quarter net income fell
10%, but results comfortably topped analysts' estimates sending the
stock 2% higher to $160.29 in premarket trading.
Noble Corp. (NE) said its first-quarter earnings soared 70% as
the offshore oil driller saw fleet growth and higher revenue.
Results surpassed analysts' expectations. Shares rose 3.7% to
$31.50 premarket.
SanDisk Corp. (SNDK) said its first-quarter earnings jumped 62%
as the flash-memory maker reported a rise in revenue. Adjusted
earnings and revenue topped Wall Street's expectations. Shares rose
6.3% to $80.64 premarket.
Baker Hughes Inc. (BHI) said first-quarter income grew 23%, as
the oil-field services company posted continued growth in its
Middle East and Asia Pacific business. Shares rose 3.4% to $68.50
premarket as results topped Wall Street's expectations.
Google Inc. (GOOG) posted a 3.2% increase in first-quarter net
income amid a continuing decline in how much advertisers pay per
click, as users shift to smartphones and tablets. Shares slipped
1.8% to $546.81 premarket.
Renewable Energy Group Inc.'s (REGI) shares dropped after the
company tempered its expectations for the first quarter, saying
unseasonably cold winter weather reduced demand for diesel. Shares
fell 14% to $10.76 premarket.
Senior Housing Properties Trust (SNH) said it plans to offer 12
million shares, and expects to use the proceeds to repay amounts
outstanding on its revolving credit facility and for general
corporate purposes. Senior Housing Properties Trust recently had
188.2 million shares outstanding, according to FactSet Research.
Shares fell 4.8% to $21.68 premarket.
Watch List:
Albemarle Co. (ALB) said it will sell its antioxidants,
ibuprofen and propofol business as part of its previously announced
restructuring.
American Express Co. (AXP) said first-quarter earnings rose due
to expense controls and higher revenues.
BlackRock Inc. (BLK) said its first-quarter earnings surged 20%,
handily topping Wall Street views, as revenue jumped and investors
poured money into its mutual funds.
Capital One Financial Corp. (COF) said its first-quarter
earnings rose 9.3% as a decline in the amount set aside for
potential loan losses helped offset a decline in revenue.
DuPont Co. (DD) said its first-quarter earnings fell 57% as the
chemicals and agricultural-products company reported that growth in
most of its businesses was offset by harsh weather and shifts in
agriculture.
EOG Resources Inc. (EOG) said it expects a $155.7 million
noncash loss in the first quarter on the mark-to-market of its
crude-oil and natural-gas derivatives contracts, according to a
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
General Electric Co. (GE) said its first-quarter income declined
15% as the conglomerate's revenue slipped. Chief Executive Jeff
Immelt said the company saw strength in most markets, including
power and water, aviation and oil and gas.
Kansas City Southern's (KSU) first-quarter profit slid 9.7% as
the regional railroad operator recorded higher expenses and
debt-retirement costs, masking a jump in revenue.
Kinder Morgan Inc.'s (KMI) first-quarter earnings fell 1.7% as
its Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P. affiliate and El Paso
Pipeline Partners L.P. also posted declines.
Mattel Inc. (MAT) swung to a first quarter loss as the toy maker
recorded a slip in sales, weighed down by the company's Barbie
brand.
Packaging Corp. of America (PKG) said it agreed to pay $17.6
million to settle a class-action lawsuit from 2010 that alleged
several containerboard companies conspired to fix prices.
Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) said first-quarter income
sank 12%, as the cigarette maker continued to struggle with
shrinking volumes in most of its regions.
Plexus Corp.'s (PLXS) shares jumped as the
manufacturing-components vendor issued a profit outlook for the
current quarter that topped Wall Street's expectations.
Sallie Mae (SLM) said its first-quarter profit slid 18% as
expenses grew and last year's results benefited from gains tied to
debt repurchases and the sale of an investment.
Steel Dynamics Inc. (STLD) said its first-quarter earnings fell
20% as severe winter weather led to higher energy costs and lower
shipments.
UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) said its first-quarter earnings
fell 7.8%, hurt by government cuts to Medicare Advantage programs
and new taxes resulting from the Affordable Care Act.
United Rentals Inc.'s (URI) first-quarter earnings more than
doubled as the equipment-rental company reported a jump in revenue,
while highlighting strengthening demand in nearly every market.
Universal Forest Products Inc.'s (UFPI) first-quarter earnings
surged 38% as some costs declined, masking a slight drop in
revenue.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@wsj.com and John Kell at
john.kell@wsj.com
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